Is NATO ready if war comes to its Northern Flank? International experts gather in Oslo 26 November to discuss NATO’s ability to muster a swift and powerful response in the North.

The seminar is open to all and free of charge. ID is required.

Lunch and registration from 11.00
Sign up for "Is NATO ready?" https://forsvaret.no/hogskolene/Arrangementer/sne-is-nato-ready

The conclusion of Trident Juncture, the large-scale NATO exercise in Norway, presents a timely opportunity to address NATO's readiness in the North.

The Readiness Action Plan (2014) set out to improve NATO's ability to respond swiftly and decisively to an attack on one of its member states. Four years later, it is still questionable whether NATO will be able to react at the speed of necessity.

The Norwegian Minister of Defence will open the conference by addressing NATO's role in Norway, before academic, military and political representatives will discuss NATO's decision-making procedures and ability to provide military support.

PROGRAMME
Welcoming remarks

- Professor Kjell Inge Bjerga, director, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS)

KEYNOTE
NATO in Norway – Visibility and Readiness on NATO's Northern Flank 

- Frank Bakke-Jensen, Norwegian Minister of Defence

PANEL I
Decision-Making: Is NATO able to make decisions quickly enough?

- Dr Paal Sigurd Hilde, associate professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies
- Rachel Ellehuus, deputy director & senior fellow, Europe Program at Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Washington
- Professor Peter Roberts, director, Military Sciences, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London
- Knut Hauge, director general, Department for Security Policy and the High North, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to NATO

Moderated by
- Dr Robin Allers, senior fellow, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies

PANEL II
Allied Military Support: Is NATO able to provide relevant capabilities in time?

- Lieutenant General Markus Laubenthal, German Army, German Ministry of Defence, former Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Europe
- Brigadier General Dag Søberg, Norwegian Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, Knowledge, Plans and Policy at 1st German/Netherlands Corps, Münster
- Commodore Arne Morten Grønningsæter, Royal Norwegian Navy, prospective Joint Force Command, Norfolk Virginia
- Colonel (R) Andrew Budd, Head Capabilities Section, Defence Policy Directorate at NATO Headquarters, Brussels

Moderated by
- Dr Ida Maria Oma, associate professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies

CLOSING REMARKS 
Ready for real? If war comes to the Northern Flank

- Professor Rolf Tamnes, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies

The conference is organised by the IFS research programme Security and Defence in Northern Europe (SNE), a joint effort between the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)